The BJP launched a scathing attack on Congress MP Randeep Surjewala for reportedly making "vile, sexist" remarks against Mathura MP Hema Malini, saying it showed that the Congress was misogynistic and abhors women. Surjewala, however, said only selective parts of his speech were shared by the BJP IT cell, stressing that it had a habit of "distorting facts and spreading lies".
Surjewala came under heavy fire from the BJP after the party's IT department head Amit Malviya shared an undated video on X in which the Congress MP was heard making some objectionable remarks about Hema Malini.
"Congress MP Randeep Surjewala makes a vile sexist comment, that is demeaning and derogatory, not just for Hema Malini, who is an accomplished individual, but women in general," Malviya tweeted.
"This is Rahul Gandhi's Congress. It is misogynistic and abhors women," he further said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also hit out at Surjewala, saying women would teach them a strong lesson in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
"When the opposition is not able to find any candidate against Hema Malini ji, it is now using derogatory language against her," the Uttar Pradesh CM said.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the only identity of the Congress was disrespecting "nari shakti", referring to the recent row over derogatory remarks against BJP leader Kanagana Ranaut purportedly posted by Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate.
The post against Ranaut, BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, was later deleted and Shrinate claimed it was posted by somebody who had access to her accounts.
Under fire for his remarks, Surjewala accused the BJP of "twisting facts and spreading lies". The Congress MP shared another clipping from the same video in which he is heard saying that he "respects" Hema Malini because she is "married to Dharmendra ji, she is our bahu".
"My intention was not to insult Hema Malini ji or to hurt anybody. That's why I clearly said we respect Hema Malini ji. The BJP is anti-women, so it sees everything from its misogyny-tinted glasses and conveniently spreads lies," Surjewala said in his post.
Surjewala called the move BJP's objective to divert attention from the government's "anti-youth, anti-farmer" policies. "These pawns of BJP never asked the Prime Minister why he said '50 crore ki girlfriend', called a woman MP 'Surpanakha', trolled a woman Chief Minister, used the expression 'Congress's widow' and described the Congress leadership as a 'jersey cow'," he said.
